Rupture of vulnerable plaque of carotid artery is closely related to the occurrence of cerebral vascular accidents. Stabilization of vulnerable plaque of carotid artery has significant influence on the prevention and treatment of cerebrovascular accidents. Animal experiments and clinical studies show that Chinese medicine has good stabilizing effect on vulnerable plaque of carotid artery. This article reviewed TCM etiology and pathogenesis, treatment prescriptions and mechanism of vulnerable plaque of carotid artery.

Objective To evaluate the effect of propofol on lung cell apoptosis induced by acute pulmonary thromboembolism (APTE) .Methods Forty male SD rats weighing 280-300 g were randomly divided into 5 groups ( n = 8 each) : group Ⅰ sham operation ( group S) ; group ⅡAPTE and 3 propofol groups ( group P1-3). APTE was produced by iv injection of auto-blood clots. Venous blood 0.2 ml was obtained from rat tail vein and placed in a sterile test tube which was kept in water bath at 37 ℃ overnight. The blood clot was cut into thrombi ( diameter 1 mm, length 5 mm) the next day. Fifteen thrombi in 2 ml of normal saline were injected into immediately after iv injection of auto-bloed clots. The animals were killed at the end of 4 h propofol infusion and lung specimens were obtained for determination of lung cell apoptosis rate by flow eytometry and expression of caspase-3, Bax, Bcl-2, Fas, FasL mRNA and protein by RT-PCR and Western blot.The expression of Bcl-2/Bax mRNA and protein was calculated. Results Compared with group S,APTE significantly increased the lung cell apoptosis rate, and expression of caspase-3, Bax, Fas, FasL and decreased the expression of Bcl-2 and Bcl-2/Bax. Propofol infusion significantly attenuated these APTE-induced changes. Conclusion Propofol can inhibit APTE-induced lung cell apoptosis by down-regulating the caspase-3, Fas and FasL expression and regulating the balance between Bcl-2 and Bax expression.

Objective: To review clinical characteristics of cardiac and pericardial hydatid cysts and assess the results of surgical treatment. Methods: From February 1978 to July 1999, 13 patients were diagnosed as heart and/or pericardium echinococcosis. There were nine male and four female. Their age ranged from 8 to 36 years ［mean (23.0±8.5) years］. 10 patients were symptomatic and 3 were asymptomatic. 3 patients had involvement of liver or lung. Pathologic cardiac murmur or cardiac enlargements were found in 10 patients. All patients were examined with chest roentgenograms, electrocardiogram and echocardiography. The serologic test was positive in 11 cases and negative in 3 cases. One right atrial cyst was removed under extracorporal circulation. 4 single pericardial cyst and multi-pericardial cyst were resected, 6 myocardial cysts and one complicated myocard ial and pericardial cysts were resected through puncture-aspiration endocystect omy. Results: All patients were followed up from six months to six years ［mean (3.5±1.5) years］. One late death occurred ten-month after operation, and the cause of death was heart failure. 3 patients had recurrence and were reoperated. Conclusion: The clinical characters may vary according to the number, size and location of cysts. Echocardiography is important for surgical planning. The results of endocystectomy of cardiac and pericardial echinococcosis were excellent.

Recently a number of acupuncture clinical trial projects mainly conducted by conventional scientists have generated many negative results. A large meta-analysis of patient-level acupuncture data for the treatment of chronic pain conditions have demonstrated that the effects of verum acupuncture on pain improvement have statistically significant, but small, differences compared with sham-acupuncture procedures and no difference between acupuncture points and non-points. These conclusions have puzzled the acupuncture community and made confusion for acupuncture research and practices. The purpose of this paper was to compare differences between acupuncture clinical practices and the trial studies, which include "acupuncture technical principles", "acupuncture clinical trial design", and "acupuncture practice based on the theory of traditional Chinese medicine". These factors contribute to the puzzle between the acupuncture community/practice and acupuncture clinical trials, which can be improved in future studies.
Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Chronic Disease ; Clinical Trials as Topic ; Humans ; Meta-Analysis as Topic ; Pain Management ; methods ; Research Design

Objective To analyze the clinical features of vasovagal syncope, enhance its clinial awareness and to promote the importance of history taking in the differential diagnosis of syncope. Methods A total of 83 patients with the diagnosis of vasovagal syncope were included in the study and their data were, undergone retrospective statistical analysis. Results A 63.9% of patients had recurrent syncope. There was 73.5% of them had motivation and 80.7% of them had presyncope symptoms. Complete loss of consciousness was found in 77.1% of patients. There was 39.1% of them had concomitant symptoms and 39.1% had postsyncopal symptoms. In 54.2% of the patients the duration of syncope was less than 2 minutes. Conclusion It is important to pay attention to history taking and to anylaze the clinical features in the diagnosis of vasovagal syncope.

Objective:To investigate the clinical and molecular genetic features of neonatal congenital Netherton syndrome (NS) caused by mutations in serine protease inhibitor of Kazal type 5 ( SPINK5) gene. Methods:This study retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of an NS neonate admitted to Shanghai Children's Hospital in November 2018. SPINK5 gene was analyzed using high-throughput sequencing and Sanger sequencing. Relevant articles were retrieved from various databases including China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Wanfang and PubMed, and the reported cases who were diagnosed as NS within two months after birth with SPINK5 gene sequencing results were reviewed. Clinical features, gene mutations, treatment and follow-up results of NS were summarized using descriptive statistical analysis. Results:The patient presented with diffuse erythema and desquamation, sparse hair and repeated infections shortly after birth. Laboratory tests revealed elevated IgE (111 IU/ml) and "invagination-like" change in the hair under optical microscope. SPINK5 gene analysis found that there were compound heterozygous mutations of c.2468dup (p.Lys824Glufs*4) and c.377_378del (p.Tys126*) in the child. The pedigree analysis found that the two mutations were respectively inherited from the father and the mother, which supported the diagnosis of NS caused by SPINK5 gene mutation. Though skin rash improved after comprehensive treatments including anti-infection therapy, gamma globulin injection and skincare, the patient suffered from recurrent infection and was discharged from the hospital after giving up treatment and died of infection at two months old. Eleven NS cases were retrieved from literature and altogether 12 cases were analyzed here. The most common clinical manifestations in the 12 patients were early skin diffuse erythema and desquamation (12/12), infection (8/12), dry hair (7/12), hypernatremia dehydration (7/12), high IgE (5/12), growth retardation (4/12), respiratory failure (3/12), atopic constitution (2/12), diarrhea (2/12), dysphagia (1/12), hypothermia (1/12), wheezing (1/12), hypertension (1/12), liver failure (1/12) and metabolic alkalosis (1/12). Conclusions:NS is caused by SPINK5 gene mutation with atypical manifestations in neonates. Neonates with diffuse erythema and desquamation of the skin, repeated infections, dry hair and especially with high blood IgE should be considered the possibility of NS. Genetic testing is conducive to early diagnosis, guiding treatment decisions and providing a basis for genetic counseling.

Air Pollutants, Occupational ; analysis ; Chromatography ; methods ; Sulfur Dioxide ; analysis ; Workplace

Objective To investigate the self-assembly and cellular localization patterns of fila-mentous temperature-sensitive protein Z (FtsZ) in Escherichia coli (E.coli) strains by using FtsZP74R, FtsZG77D and FtsZA81R mutants.Methods YFP or His labeled FtsZ proteins and the plasmids of FtsZ mu-tants were constructed by using molecular clone and site-directed mutagenesis methods.The targeted proteins were purified by affinity chromatography.FL37(△ftsZ-Cat) strains were constructed via linear DNA homol-ogous recombination.Living cell imaging was performed to observe the cellular localization patterns of FtsZ protein and its mutants in E.coli strains.The interactions between FtsZ-FtsZ/FtsZ mutants were examined by coi-mmunoprecipitation assay . The polymerization properties of FtsZ mutants were analyzed by light scattering.The activities of GTPase were monitored by using high performance liquid chromatography.Re-sults The P74, G77 and A81 amino acids were respectively replaced by different polar amino acids to change the amphipathicity of the helix within the domain of FtsZ ( 74-82 ) .The YFP-labeled FtsZP74R , FtsZG77D and FtsZA81R mutants failed to assemble into functional Z-ring structure in E.coli strains.The inter-actions between FtsZ protein and its mutants were weakened or completely disappeared.In addition, in vitro experiments showed that P74R, G77D and A81R mutations caused a decrease in the polymerization efficien-cy of FtsZ monomer.The activity of GTPase was significantly decreased in the FtsZA81R mutant. Conclusion The P74, G77 and A81 were critical amino acids in the function and assembly of FtsZ protein in E.coli strains.Moreover, A81 amino acid regulated the lateral interaction of FtsZ monomer and the activity of GTPase.

As a type of neuroendocrine tumors, neuroblastoma (NB) is the most common extra-cranial solid tumor of childhood.123/131I-MIBG scintigraphy is a standard imaging modality in staging and evaluating therapeutic effect of pediatric NB with high accuracy.131I-MIBG treatment is effective for children with high-risk and relapsed/refractory NB.Combined with chemotherapy, stem cell transplantation, 131I-MIBG treatment shows efficacy in decreasing the relapse of pediatric NB.This review summarizes the application of MIBG scintigraphy and 131I-MIBG treatment for pediatric NB.

OBJECTIVE:To explore the repairing effect and mechanism of Huazhuo jiedu yukui formula on the mucosal dam-age of rats with ulcerative colitis (UC). METHODS:72 rats were randomly divided into blank group,model group,mesalamine group(positive control,0.3 g/kg),Huazhuo jiedu yukui formula low-dose,medium-dose,high-dose groups(5,10,20 g/kg),12 in each group. Except for blank group,other groups were induced UC model. After 4 d of modeling,rats in administration groups received related medicines,ig,blank group and model group received normal saline,ig,once a day,for 2 weeks. After administra-tion,disease activity index(DAI)and mucosal damage index(CMDI)of rats were observed;IL-8,TNF-α contents in serum and cyclooxygenase 2 (COX-2) expression in colon tissue were detected. RESULTS:Compared with blank group,DAI and CMDI scores in model group were increased;IL-8,TNF-α contents in serum were increased;COX-2 expression in colon tissue was en-hanced,with statistical significances (P<0.05). Compared with model group,DAI and CMDI scores in model group were de-creased;IL-8,TNF-α contents in serum were reduced;COX-2 expression in colon tissue was weakened,with statistical signifi-cances (P<0.05). Compared with mesalamine group, the above-mentioned indicators in Huazhuo jiedu yukui formula medi-um-dose,high-dose groups changed more obviously (P<0.05),and effects of Huazhuo jiedu yukui formula showed significant dose-effect relationship. CONCLUSIONS:Huazhuo jiedu yukui formula can improve disease activity status of UC rats and reduce colon mucosal damage,and the effects of medium-dose and high-dose Huazhuo jiedu yukui formula were better than mesalamine, which may be related to reducing inflammatory reaction and inhibiting COX-2 expression in colon tissue.